Chris Purcell is a third generation farmer who works about 2,800 acres of pulses and cereals southwest of Saskatoon. His grandfather Clyde started the farm and he grew up helping his father Eugene in the fields.

“I feel like I have an obligation to farm, right? For me it’s personal,” Purcell, 34, said in a recent interview near the end of harvest.

“Seeing my grandpa and what he started with — he paved the way. He basically set us up for the position we’re in now. I don’t want to be the guy that packs it in and cashes in on all his hard work. If we have kids, I want to pass this all on to them.”

StarPhoenix photographer Liam Richards followed Purcell throughout the 2015 season, from seeding to harvest. Would an early spring drought sink the operation or would growth recover in time for Purcell to see a bountiful end to the year?

Chris Purcell speaks on his phone while in his combine, as it dumps harvested peas into his semi trailer on his farm on Aug. 3, 2015.Liam Richards/Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Chris Purcell in his combine dumps harvested peas into his semi trailer on his farm on Aug. 3, 2015.Liam Richards/Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Chris Purcell, right, speaks with his father Eugene just on their crops growth on their farm southwest of Saskatoon on June 18, 2015.Liam Richards/Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Spring

Heading into the seeding season, Purcell was optimistic for the year ahead.

“I think everybody through winter was in a good mood and positive. The last two years were good years and prices were high. There was a concern of low moisture. We did have that crazy storm at the end of April that brought a lot of moisture that was needed in retrospect. There was a good start to the year.”

Purcell finished seeding around May 20th and he was nervous about the dry weather heading into the crucial growing period in June.

“It’s crazy pressure. It’s all a roll of the dice whether it’s going to rain or hail or the sun will shine. It’s all based on market prices. If you do everything right, then it’s what are the prices doing now? For me, we do about 2,800 acres so we’re a hobby farm compared to today’s standards. I have customers with 10- 15- 20,000 acres so my inputs compared to their inputs is astronomical. Hundreds of thousands to millions spent on strictly inputs alone. Equipment payments, land payments, chemical, fertilizer, fuel. They have family and kids and bills like everybody else. It’s crazy.

“Guys would have more fun taking $500,000 to Vegas and letting it ride. Honestly, it’s a gamble. Every year you don’t know what it’s going to be. Every year is different. We’ve had years where it’s been crazy wet then lots of yield and bad yield, high quantity and poor quality.”

Chris Purcell display germinated seed that is not growing due to a lack of moisture on his farm on June 18, 2015.

Summer

The first real good shot of rain came in late June, then more in July and August. Until the middle of summer, hope was dwindling.

“It’s grim. We started seeding May 5 and we’re well into mid-June and we have not seen a drop of rain yet. I’m not exaggerating. Not a sprinkle, not a spit. She’s dry. She’s bone dry … it was gross how dry it was. Thankfully, we irrigate. We’re close enough to the river. But running those things isn’t free.”

“They were patchy rains. I had land two miles apart where one would get an inch of rain and the other would get a tenth. The rain was so sporadic this year … It was frustrating. It’s not even the amount of rain — it’s the timeliness and staging of the rain.

“This year was extremely frustrating because of the lack of rain. We had good germination off the seed we seeded. But the weeds never grew after so we were spraying — and it’s all timing, you have to spray the crop at a certain time, you have a certain window.”

Chris Purcell in his combine dumps harvested peas into his semi trailer on his farm on Aug. 3, 2015.

Fall

The technology has changed a lot since Purcell started shovelling grain bins as a kid.

“Farming has become so technical. The ‘dumb farmer’ is definitely not the standard. These guys are so up to snuff on markets and technology and everything ran with these machines is computerized, whether it’s the GPS or the way it seeds.”

“I can’t imagine how it’s changed for these older guys. My grandfather went from horse and plow to GPS in his lifetime. He got to see those changes. He was 96 when he passed. It’s crazy.”

By the end of summer, Purcell’s crops were in good shape.

“For us and I think most people in the area, it was a lot better than what we expected. It turned out to be an average year again, I think.”

“Once we got into the field and started combining and seeing the yields come off … I thought we’d do 25 bushels an acre and once we got into it we did 40-45 bushels an acre. It turned out a lot better than what it looked like at the start of the year.

“In the end, it’s a lot of hard work and if we’re into the black at the end of the year it’s a good thing.”

Chris Purcell, right, speaks with his father Eugene just on their crops growth on their farm southwest of Saskatoon on June 18, 2015.

Family

Purcell has a day job Full Line Ag so he essentially works to full-time jobs when spring seeding starts. The habit of always being busy is something he learned from his dad.

“We’ve always farmed and worked off the farm. Work for 10 hours off the farm and then come home and farm until midnight,” Purcell said.

“It’s tough, man. Especially this time of the year with seeding. With the company, it’s our busy time at the shop and same here at the farm. It’s a lot of time management. I don’t know why I do it. I honestly don’t. I could do one or the other, but I love doing both. I’m motivated and I like to keep moving. I’ve seen my dad do it his whole life so maybe it’s bred into me.”

Purcell, his dad Eugene and uncle Dwight all work together. Dwight has his own land, but the family shares equipment and some of the work.

“My dad is my partner. We’re partners in the farm. He taught me lots … I’m not going to say we don’t have our disagreements. You need a boss and you need a boss in each situation, no matter what the situation or business. With our situation, we’re partners. You work as partners and you both have your input — you don’t have to agree on everything, that’s life. It does get heated. This harvest me and my dad have had a few verbal altercations. But you have your say and move on and get the work done. Every farm is like that.”

At the end of harvest, Purcell reflects on his farming life.

“I absolutely love it. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. I love farming. We live in Saskatchewan, other than potash and uranium, farming is it. I grew up with it. It’s bred into me. I love the freedom that it brings. This is where my Zen comes in. My other life is so busy, it’s almost like a holiday out here when I’m working.”

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